Funeral Options
Every family is different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. Funeral practices are influenced by religious and cultural traditions, costs and personal preferences. These factors help determine whether the funeral will be elaborate or simple, public or private, religious or secular, and where it will be held. They also influence whether the body will be present at the funeral, if there will be a viewing or visitation, and if so, whether the casket will be open or closed, and whether the remains will be buried or cremated.
Among the choices you'll need to make is whether you want one of these basic types of funerals, or something in between.
Earth Burial
Funerals are a means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about the death of someone we love – they are rites of passage. The funeral ceremony helps us to acknowledge that someone we love has passed on; it allows us to pay our respects, and offers solace and hope for the living.
Most families select ground burial (or entombment, which means “burial” above ground) as the “final resting place”. This usually involves the selection of a casket, which is an integral part of the funeral arrangement process. The casket is a receptacle designed to allow the dignified display of the deceased during the visitation period and funeral ceremony, and as a protective container to hold the deceased after burial.
Cremation
Contrary to what most people believe, cremation does not limit one’s choices, nor does the choice of cremation necessarily eliminate a funeral service. A funeral service followed by cremation need be no different than a funeral service followed by ground burial. Following the funeral service and cremation, the cremated remains are usually placed in an urn before being committed to a final resting place.
About 25% of families making funeral arrangements today choose cremation as their means of final disposition. The reasons for choosing cremations are varied, but may include financial considerations, the desire for simplicity, or environmental reasons. If your choose cremation, you can still have a traditional viewing and funeral ceremony, at our funeral home or your church, using a rented casket, before cremation. We offer funeral service packages, especially designed for cremation, starting at $1,795, including casket and limousine. In reality, today’s cremation options offer your family many opportunities for personalization, allowing you to pay your respects in a dignified and respectful manner.
For Additional information about the benefits of a funeral pre-arrangement, contact us using our online contact form. All information is strictly confidential.
Memorial Service
A Memorial Service is the same as a traditional funeral service, except the body is not present for the visitation or the funeral. One of the benefits of the Memorial Service is that it can be planned at your convenience; you don’t have to rush through the process, as is more common with traditional burial services.